Betting On Cricket
As hinted at in its name, betting on cricket is the process of placing wagers on cricket games and tournaments. Today, you can bet on cricket games both at brick-and-mortar shops and at online betting websites too. Our guide here will cover the online aspect of cricket betting.
Before you can bet on anything, you’ll need to find an online sportsbook to register with. The websites we’ve mentioned above, which we explore in further detail below, are great starting points, and once you’ve registered with a betting site, you’ll need to verify your account.
Once you’ve verified your account, you’ll then need to fund your account by making a deposit, select the sport you want to bet on, select the wager you want to place, and then confirm the wager. After you’ve done that, you simply need to wait for the game to play out and hope you predicted your wager correctly. If you were correct, the winnings are paid to your account, but if you lose, the wager is lost.
Cricket Betting Wagers
Now you know how online cricket betting works, it’s a good idea to learn about the different types of bets available on cricket games and tournaments. Take a look at them below:
- Match Outcome: Betting on how a cricket game will end; with either team winning or a draw
- Tied Match: Betting specifically on whether a game will end in a draw or not
- Series Winner: Betting on which team will win a series of matches
- Innings Runs: Betting on the number of runs that are scored within the first innings of a match
- Top Bowler: Betting on which player will take the most wickets within a match or series
- Top Batsman: Betting on which player will land the most runs in a match or series. There’s also a team version of this bet where you simply pick the team you think will have a player that lands the most runs
- Bowler Match Bets: Betting on which player of two will take the most wickets in a match or series
- Batsman Match Bets: Betting on which player of two will land the most runs in a match or series
- Over/Under Score: Predicting what the outcome of a game or series will be based on selections from the sportsbook
- Man Of The Match: Betting on which player will earn the Man Of The Match title
There are dozens of other bets you can place on cricket, but the wagers we’ve discussed above are some of the most popular wagers commonly available, and usually what most online sportsbooks offer. However, it’s important to note that not all betting options will be available at every online sportsbook, the available wagers will depend on the sportsbook and event, which is why it’s important to check each website before registering with them.
Cricket Betting Odds And How To Use Them
Cricket betting odds are incredibly important when it comes to placing wagers as they represent the probability of how likely something is to occur. Betting odds are generally presented as either fractional odds or decimal odds, and all betting sites offering cricket betting will offer different odds, which is why it’s a good idea to shop around before confirming a bet.
In short, the higher the cricket betting odds of a single website, the better your chances are of winning your wager. What’s more, cricket betting odds will impact your winnings if your wager is correct, so we can only once again stress the importance of shopping around at different cricket betting sites before confirming a wager to ensure that you’re playing with the best cricket betting odds.
All of that is easier said than done, however, since there are so many cricket betting sites. So, it may be a good idea to read through reviews and register with several cricket betting sites that you enjoy and then compare the cricket betting odds between them. Never stick to a single website, always keep your options open for the best possible payout.
Live Cricket Betting
In addition to traditional sports betting, most online sportsbooks also provide in-play live cricket betting, where you place wagers as the game is playing. This type of betting is great for people who aren’t confident in their predictions and want to watch part of the game before placing a bet. However, it’s important to note that odds for live cricket betting wagers are always changing, which means it can be somewhat risky to place live wagers. It’s also worth pointing out that sportsbooks offering live cricket betting usually provide you with ways of watching the game on the website, so you don’t need to follow it on TV.
Alongside live cricket betting, many websites also offer virtual sports betting where you wager on virtual sports games that feature fictional players. These games use lifelike visuals and sound effects that make the virtual games feel more like real life, and they take place every two to three minutes, which is why they’ve become so popular.
Important Cricket Tournaments
Cricket has become so popular that there are now numerous cricket tournaments that take place every year, all of which are great for placing sports bets on. If you want to know more about the big cricket, take a look below:
The Ashes Series
The Ashes is a Test cricket tournament between England and Australia that is hosted by the two countries once every two years. The event, which began in 1877, consists of five Tests (A form of cricket with the longest match duration), and the team that most recently won the series hold the Ashes.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a cricket tournament between eight teams from eight Indian cities. The event takes place annually between March and May and has taken place since its founding back in 2008.
International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship
The International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship is another big-name cricket tournament that is great for betting on. The event sees the top nine ICC teams play a series of games against each other over a period of two years, with the final two teams qualifying for a World Test League Championship Final. The tournament first launched in August 2019, and the next series is scheduled to run between July 2021 and June 2023.
T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup or ICC World Twenty20, is an international championship organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). This event consists of 16 teams; the ten top teams based on rankings and six others that are chosen from the T20 World Cup Qualifier. The event first launched in 2007 and is traditionally held every two years, although the last edition took place back in 2016. The next two editions will take place in 2021 and 2022, with subsequent editions taking place every two years.
ICC Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup or simply the Cricket World Cup is a cricket series that takes place every four years. The event is widely regarded as one of the biggest sports events in the world, and it dates back to June 1975, when it was first hosted by England. The Cricket World Cup starts with a qualification phase that takes place in the three years prior to the main 10-team event. However, the number of teams competing in the main competition will increase to 14 in 2024.
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a cricket league that generally takes place between February and March every year. The event consists of six teams representing various cities across Pakistan, much like the Indian Premier League (IPL). All teams play matches, and the top four teams qualify for the playoffs which end with the PSL Cup Final.
ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy is a well-known cricket tournament, which is almost as big as the Cricket World Cup. The event is held every four years like the World Cup and sees eight teams compete against each other. The event has had a wild history, having been cancelled in 2013, brought back shortly after, cancelled again in 2018, and then brought back again in 2021, with the next edition taking place in 2025.
The Best Cricket Betting Sites
By now, you’ll have an understanding of how online cricket betting works, it’s time to take a look at what the best cricket betting sites are. We’ve compiled a list of the best websites for you to check out with basic details as well as links to our in-depth reviews too. Take a look at them below:
Bet365
Bet365 is a well-known online sportsbook that is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. The website is giving all new users a generous welcome bonus that can be used on any sport, including cricket. Alongside cricket, the website also allows you to wager on horse racing, tennis, basketball, golf, eSports, table tennis, and so much more. Our Bet365 review has more details, and you can read it here.
BetVictor
BetVictor is another website that offers online cricket betting and plenty of other casino games, making it one of the best cricket betting sites around. The site offers numerous promotions, accepts most major payment methods, and it offers great customer support too for a great all-around experience. Take a look at our BetVictor review for more details.
SportPesa
SportPesa is an online betting website that allows you to wager on cricket as well as other sport such as football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, eSports, golf, formula one, and plenty more. In addition to offering sports betting, you can enjoy virtual betting, a wide selection of casino games, including video slots, jackpots, live casino content, and more. Our SportPesa review has more information about the website and what you can expect from it.
Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet is an online sportsbook operated by and themed after the Virgin brand. Like other sportsbooks, the website is great for betting on cricket and on a variety of other unique sports, including golf. It’s also home to an excellent range of casino games too. If that’s not enough, Virgin Bet offers a range of promotions for both sports betting and its casino content. Take a look at our full Virgin Bet review for more details.
William Hill
Our final recommendation for the best cricket betting site is William Hill, one of the biggest sports betting operators in the United Kingdom. The website allows you to wager on a wide selection of sports, including baseball, basketball, snooker, football, netball, pool, golf, greyhound racing, handball, and cricket too. If that isn’t enough, the website runs numerous promotions and it provides you with access to plenty of casino games and bingo rooms too for a diverse selection of content. Take a look at our William Hill review if you’re looking for more details.
What To Look For In Cricket Betting Sites
Due to the sheer number of cricket betting sites available in the UK, it can be difficult finding the right one for you. We’ve made several suggestions above, but if you feel that they don’t meet your requirements, it may be a good idea to search for a cricket betting site yourself. If you decide to do this, you’ll need to take a look at several factors which we’ve explained in detail further below.
Gambling Activities
When looking for the best cricket betting sites, you’ll need to check what activities are available for you to enjoy. In addition to cricket betting, most websites will also allow you to wager on football, boxing, baseball, greyhound racing, cycling, horse racing, and so much more too. It’s also a good idea to check whether the website offers virtual betting, and casino content such as video slots, table games, live casino titles, bingo rooms, and other content.
A wider selection of gambling activities is better as you’re less likely to get bored of the website. The additional content may also keep you entertained while you’re waiting for your bets to clear, which is great. So, before you register anywhere, have a look through the betting site’s sports selection and take a look at any other tabs the site will have for casino, bingo, and virtual betting content too.
Promotions
In addition to looking at what you can bet on, it’s a good idea to check what online betting offers and promotions are available at a cricket betting site. Most betting sites provide new users with a free bet that can be used on any sport provided a deposit and wager are made. However, the best betting sites should also offer other promotions, including additional free bets, boosted odds, cashback bonuses on losses, and so much more.
If the betting site also offers casino games, it’ll likely also provide you with casino promotions, such as deposit bonuses, free spins on select slots, loyalty schemes, bingo tickets, and so much more. If you’re looking to claim a promotion, regardless of whether it’s for betting or traditional casino content, it’s important to read through the terms and conditions of a bonus to ensure you understand exactly what’s required of you. The terms and conditions will also explain any limitations imposed on the bonus, including wagering requirements, win limits, withdrawal limits, and more.
Payment Options
Another important factor to consider when looking for the best cricket betting sites is the accepted payment methods. All betting sites will accept payments via debit cards (Not credit cards due to the UK Gambling Commission’s ban), and the other accepted payment methods will depend on the betting site. Many will also accept deposits via PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard, Pay By Mobile, AstroPay Card, Trustly, and more. So, if you’re looking to use a particular payment method, it’s a good idea to check that it’s available at the betting site you’re interested in.
In addition, it’s important to check the processing time for withdrawals, which most betting sites and casinos explain in an FAQ or help page, such as Betfair’s here. Check how long most withdrawals will take you, and check whether the website imposes any fees for certain payment methods. It’s incredibly important to know all of this before registering with a website so you’re not hit with any surprises when it comes to money transactions.
Customer Support
Customer support at cricket betting sites is also important, particularly since you need to contact support to verify your account before depositing any money and making wagers. Browse the gambling website to see what support services are available, including a live chat service (What days and hours is it available?), an email address, and a telephone number, although the latter is usually not available. A betting site that offers more customer support services and services that are more accessible is much better for you. Our reviews generally cover the customer support available at a betting site, so you know what is and isn’t available.
Mobile-Friendliness
Finally, it’s important to check how mobile-friendly the betting site is for you. Most online betting sites today are mobile-friendly in-browser, allowing you to visit the site and place wagers within your mobile’s internet browser, but it’s important to check how the site works on mobile. What’s more, it’s a good idea to check whether the website or brand offers a mobile betting app, which you can download directly to your device from the Apple App or Google Play Stores. These apps take up storage on your smartphone or tablet device and have some restrictions, but offer a more dedicated way to play. However, if the betting site offers other gambling activities, you may need to download separate apps for betting, casino, live casino, and potentially bingo too.
If you find a cricket betting site that meets all of your needs within these categories, it’s worth registering provided it holds a valid license from the UK Gambling Commission. At the end of the day, you’ll need to find a website that interests you and offers you all of the content you want to play, it’s as simple as that.
Cricket Betting Apps – What’s Best?
As we mentioned above, mobile-friendliness is an important aspect of sports betting. While playing in-browser is a popular option, many people prefer playing in dedicated cricket betting apps. These apps are downloaded directly to your smartphone device or tablet, and they allow you to bet on cricket and other sports. Since most betting sites offer mobile apps, it can be difficult to narrow down which apps are worth downloading. If you’re stuck, take a look at some of our suggestions below:
- Unibet
- Paddy Power
- Bet365Betway
- Virgin Bet
- Coral
- Betfair
- Casumo Sportsbook
- 888 Sport
- BetVictor
The cricket betting apps we’ve listed here all allow you to wager on cricket games and tournaments. They also allow you to wager on various other sports, including football, rugby, baseball, and more, and you can claim various promotions, make deposits and request withdrawals, and contact the website’s customer support team. Most of the apps we’ve listed do not allow you to play traditional casino games, and you’ll need to download separate casino apps to do this.
Cricket Betting Tips
Although you can apply strategies to most online casino games, you can’t with cricket betting. Generally speaking, there are no cricket betting strategies because the outcome of your bet solely rests on the ability of the player or team you’ve wagered on. Most online casino games like Roulette and Blackjack allow you to follow betting strategies as you’re encouraged to place as many bets as you want in quick succession, but when it comes to sports and virtual betting, particularly with cricket betting, customers usually place one or two main bets, and then have to wait for the event to take place before the bet is complete. The long wait time between placing your bet and receiving results, along with the fact that you may only place wagers irregularly on events that interest you, means there’s no point to follow complicated betting strategies. While this may come across as disappointing, we’ve compiled a list of cricket betting tips that can help you boost your enjoyment of the game.
#1: Learn About The Venue
Before you place any bets on a cricket game, try and discover as much as you can about the game’s venue, most importantly the pitch. Believe it or not, the design of the pitch will have an impact on player performance, including how the ball moves. Look for cracks, check how much grass the pitch has, and how dusty the pitch is, all of which has a direct effect on player and team performance.
#2: Check The Weather
Similarly to how the pitch affects player performance, weather can too. We suggest you wait a little before placing your bet and check what the weather will be like on the day the game is scheduled and then base your bet around that. For example, cricket balls will have reduced movement on dry warm days while damp overcast days will aid in ball movement.
#3: Research The Players And Teams
One of the best things you can do when it comes to cricket betting is to get to know the teams. If you’re going to place a cricket bet, it’s important to research the teams taking part in the game or tournament before you confirm anything. Find out what their strengths are, find out what their weaknesses are, and then use the information you’ve gathered about the game’s venue and the day’s weather to place your bet.
#4: Try Other Forms Of Cricket Betting
Cricket betting can be incredibly fun for you, but since it involves placing the same bets over and over again, it can for some people get boring quickly. If this happens to you, it may be worth trying other forms of cricket betting, like live cricket betting, which can provide you with a different experience. Alternatively, it may be worth trying out other casino games.
#5: Enjoy Yourself
Gambling and sports betting can be incredibly fun, but it’s also very easy to get wrapped up in the outcome of your bets and chase losses. This can quickly turn gambling into a stressful activity, so we suggest you slow down, learn to enjoy the experience, and use any of the safer gambling tools available to you to impose limitations or restrictions. Remember, gambling is and always should be a fun activity, if it isn’t anymore, then take a break or stop.
Again, while the cricket betting tips we’ve suggested here aren’t cricket betting strategies, we’re confident that they may help you in placing better bets and can help you focus on the enjoyment of cricket betting.
Questions & Answers (FAQ)
How does online cricket betting work?
Online cricket betting works just like betting on other sports; you have to register with an online sportsbook, verify your account, make a deposit, and then place your bet. It’s that simple! Once you’ve placed your bet, you simply have to wait for the game or tournament to place out to receive your result.
What is live cricket betting?
Live cricket betting is the process of placing bets on cricket while the game is playing out. Generally speaking, traditional cricket betting involves you placing a bet before the game starts, while live cricket betting allows you to watch the game and then place a bet whenever you want. More details on live cricket betting can be found in our cricket betting guide.
Do you have any cricket betting tips?
Yep! We’ve put together a list of cricket betting tips that we believe will help you place better bets and will improve your enjoyment of the game.
How do I find the best cricket betting sites?
We’ve made several suggestions for the best cricket betting sites in our guide, but if you want to take a look for websites yourself, we’ve also compiled a short guide on which factors you’ll need to analyse and consider when searching for a cricket betting site.
Do all sportsbooks offer cricket betting?
Since cricket is a relatively popular sport, you shouldn’t have any problems finding websites that offer cricket betting. However, it’s important to remember that the available betting options, the odds, and promotions available on each site will differ, so you’ll need to search for one that appeals to you.